They sent him home with Gabapentin, Tramadol, Rimadyl, Trazadone and an antibiotic. Ive just given him his morning meds except for the Trazadone which I want to try to balance more towards his sleep times since it's an every twelve hour drug. 

Last night was interesting - he started crying about an hour after I got him home but I quickly noticed he would stop if I would cuddle closer and massage his neck and then start when I'd move away. So I did it for about an hour until he finally passed out and slept through.

This morning, we got him enough to pee (I had to carry him - he's not willing to take more than a few steps; I'm guessing off the really high drugs that he's more aware of his lack of balance). He drank a good amount of water but turned his face away at his kibble. I did manage to get him to take the pill pockets and a bit of cheese, though. He's lying down, panting a fair amount bit now and occasionally licking his lips- I don't know if that's pain or what, but he's not crying, and he does show some small comfort when I come closer tho not as much as last night.

They said we could take the wrap around his incision off within 24-48 hours; not looking forward to that part since I'm sure the wound will be shocking to see, but after the one I saw on his leg that led to yesterday, I think I can deal. Weirdly, what I find the most immediately unsettling is how far down the shave on him was. He's wearing one of my old super soft shirts right now so hopefully that's comfortable for him, at least.

The last four months - but especially the last month - were so exhausting and so emotionally trying for both of us. Trying so many things to get an answer (the irony is the surgery to treat cost 3x less than all the attempts at diagnosis), and putting him through so much and I felt like every day I was riding the hope and then crashing despair train. I know there is a road still ahead and many adaptions, but I am so hopeful that this will allow him to return to the happy, neurotic, obstinate "No, Pinky, we're going to take over the world" boy he is.

This is my Oliver:

Only thing I've noticed is that he seems to have a reaction to Tramadol that I don't leave - starts panting and gets anxious after taking it (it's the only new drug on the list; the others he'd been taking before the surgery). I am considering reaching out to the doc and checking into an alternative, especially since he's also on Trazodone, which I think has done wonders to calm his nerves during this period.

Today was a "good" day for us, for the most part. Aside from the panting moments which always alarm me just because they make me start to worry almost on command, he did his outside business and walked a few steps each time. He had no interest in his dog food but did eat a cup of spaghetti noodles I'd made for myself for dinner. He took a few really good naps and went and let me take him outside to his kingdom perch in the backyard (we have view fencing so he sits on a lift there and stares across the greenbelt like he's surveying his kingdom) just for normalcy.

I think the hardest part beyond what are likely his pain and agitation moments is that I can see his frustration and anxiety about not being able to stand up and move around gracefully. He hitches every time he tries and there's absolutely no confidence in him that he can make it up without help. But it's day one so I'm hopeful as he adapts, that will become a non issue for him.

Thank you again.

Thanks for the greetings. We appreciate it.

We do have a question. Last night, Oliver's sleep was fairly restless. From a sitting position, he wouldn't put his head down. Occasionally some panting, but no crying. Every time he'd put his head down, he'd pop it up again within a minute. This morning, though, he's slung across the bed, lying on his incision side no less, intermittently dozing. Is this just a positional thing where I need to help him get adjusted at night?

I got the impression there was some heightened pain at night - I'd pulled him off the Tramadol but haven't yet replaced it with anything.

This morning, he ate his breakfast, drank water, hopped to the door (stopped outside and needed help to the grass) and then hopped back in. On his second time out, I had to carry him a significant amount of the way through the house and urge him a few steps on outside but then he handled his business and came back in by himself. 

He seems a bit quieter and maybe a bit more bummed out than he was yesterday but I think, otherwise okay aside from my worry about the way he slept last night. It's hard to tell what is me being overreactive or what's a concern. Any thoughts?